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Some people take more time than others to wrap their heads around jokes. Innuendos and clever puns usually carry a hidden meaning, which might seem confusing at first. In fact, research shows that nearly 70% of people laugh at jokes they don’t understand. An abundance of such instances can be found online, as the internet is a treasure trove of jokes, witty comments, and other frivolous material to make people laugh.
Here at Bored Panda, we dove into the depths of the That's the Joke subreddit to bring some examples of people unintentionally missing the gag line. And they might be funnier than the actual jests. Make yourself some popcorn and start scrolling through.
P.S. If you want to continue the involuntary abb workout, make sure to check out these jokes that are so bad they’re actually great.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
It Is At Least A Lvl 1 Meme
Research suggests that humor and insight comprehension stimulate the same brain areas. This implies that both require a bit of effort to be fathomed. It comes as no surprise, since humor is a complex form of communication.
It not only relies on linguistic means but involves other important components, such as perception and context, among others. Listening to grown-up jokes during family get-togethers didn’t seem so funny as a child, did it? While now you’re cracking one-liners about politics together with uncle Tom. This is due to a better understanding you get that comes with experience and knowledge in certain fields.
#2
Pretty Self Explanatory
#3
That’s Crazy
Research shows that when stated in a humorous way, the message is retained better. In addition to that, according to the same research, humor comprehension in the brain correlates to considering other people’s psychological state.
Also known as mentalization, this ability is crucial in order to use humor as a form of communication or entertainment. Only when you are able to understand others can you begin to understand what might be funny to them.
#4
Who Gonna Tell Him
A detailed analysis of humor and mentalization shows that a joke is best within a certain frame of intentionality. Different levels of intentionality comprise the process of mentalization and account for how well comedy will be understood by the audience. The person telling the joke has to reach a level high enough to be funny, but low enough to be intelligible. That emphasizes another factor when it comes to understanding jokes—knowing your audience.
#6
That Was The Point
#7
The Comment My Cousin Made To A Post My Sister Shared On Facebook
#8
Sick Joke Bro
Research on audience characteristics states that the listener’s tendency to laugh is a great factor when it comes to delivering jokes. People tend to have a rather fixed sense of humor, which helps if you know them well. That is why adjusting your content accordingly might save you from a moment of crickets instead of laughter.
Nevertheless, knowing your audience is not always possible, especially if the jokes are told to the vast public online. Luckily, in instances like that, the receivers can find solace in the helping hand of the internet. The survey about people that laugh without understanding jokes also stated that more than half of the respondents (56%) have had to look up the meaning of a joke to comprehend it.
#9
Found This On A Different Subreddit. Sorry To The Hardcore Redditers For Reposting
#10
Amy Schumer Isn’t Funny
#11
Haha Yes Tumblr Moment
all 4 paws 1 year ago
a hyenas laugh is actually a sign of pain. So I've been thinking, maybe im a hyena?? Not a cat??
#12
Thanks For Clearing That Up
#14
How Does This Have 110 Likes
#15
First Of All, The Repost, Then This Comment
#16
Heh - You Said Boobies
#17
•••
#18
They Should Make A Joke About That
Hotdogking 1 year ago
And in a surprising twist, two people and counting were affected by the whoosh in the comments, more updates as the story develops!
#19
S**t Quality Btw
#20
Guy Ruined It
#21
Room Temperature Iq On This One
#22
And It Was The Top Comment Too
Hotdogking 1 year ago (edited)
Imma be honest, it took me way longer than it should’ve to understand what the post meant😳. Edit to clarify: I meant it took me to long to figure out what “rub one off” meant. It’s a running joke among my friends that I am the most innocent man alive. For example, I had to have Hickeys explained to me last month (I’m 18)
#23
No Way... I Mean Let's Ignore Cloths
#24
🙂
HelluvaHedgehogAlien 1 year ago
I pause multiplayer games to feed my yelling cats and dog and turtles. Then I get tons of angry screaming that’s ALMOST as bad as the cats’ from the people who ditched me because I wasn’t moving and run ahead, only to discover I was the only one who had enough weapons to beat that thing up front. I’m a jerk in multiplayers like that.
#25
Smallpox
#26
C’mon Man I Made It So Obvious
#27
Gardener, Removed
The Other Other White Meat 1 year ago
I mean, his username is "bishslap".... the rest seems to be on par.
Awkward Momma Panda 1 year ago
Okay but is it just me or is the lady in the background now flipping off the subject of the photo and would-be plant killer?
#28
Oof He Got You There
#29
That One Person Who Ruins The Joke
#31
The Caption... Yeah No S**t
#32
I Mean.... Yeah It Is
HelluvaHedgehogAlien 1 year ago
Huh… it is the same price, but it is NOT the same price in my mental brain cell circuit! No one is convincing me otherwise! :D
#33
You'd Think Someone In A Meme Subreddit Would Catch On
#34
Thank You For Your Contribution
#35
I Sure Did!!!!
#36
When An Entire Sub Whooshes As One
#37
I Just- I Dont Understand
#38
Didn’t Really Need Any Explanation, But Apparently 161 Others Felt It Did
#39
Found On Snapchat
#40
Borderline Self-Aware
#41
Sorry For Sh** Cropping
#42
"Their"
#43
Yep, You Got It
#44
On A Coronavirus Puns Video
#45
Thanks For The Explanation
#46
Come To Brazil
#47
That Is In Fact The Joke, Thanks U/Jesstgefangirl_
#48
Well Done
#49
Thank God He Pointed That Out!
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What do you think ?
VonBlade 1 year ago
This post would've been much better without people explaining the jokes. *grins*
Paul K. Johnson 1 year ago
Speaking of lame jokes.... I keep telling people I'm immortal - just like in my last life. Nobody has laughed yet. I can't tell if it's just not funny or if nobody gets it.
RafCo (he/him) 1 year ago
Dark humor is like food. Not everybody gets it.
Load More Replies...
Victoria Pitt 1 year ago
My boyfriend, dear thing, tends to be literal and often explains jokes back to me. He will understand the joke and laugh but then tell me why it's funny, whether I made the joke or someone else did. lol He's just a little nerdy but I love him :-p
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
sounds like ASD. get him tested. It is useful to know. speaking from experience.
Load More Replies...
WonderWoman 1 year ago
BP shortened the original post of 51 to 50! Gosh, thanks BP for saving me!
K W 1 year ago
This is like the time on Twitter I said that Brad Pitt's best movie was definitely Top Gun in a tongue in cheek way. A lot of people played along but some people adamantly needed to let me know it was NOT Brad Pitt but in fact Tom Cruise. This was a couple of years ago before Maverick came out.
Matias Marczak 1 year ago
It's interesting how my brain keeps telling me these people are stupid despite it not getting most of the jokes right away.
Greta Kolding 1 year ago
You can almost see the gears painfully and squeakingly turning in someone's mind until the penny drops in slow motion.
What Do I Do With This Kitty Litter Now 1 year ago
70% of bored panda could fit in this article
Grace Note 1 year ago
My favourite from years ago. I was on a forum and one user was arguing with another, telling him how stupid he was, blah. I don't remember the name of the arguing guy but the user he was arguing with was a Scottish guy with the username ElvisPaisley. Got to the end of dressing down, ElvisPaisley and finished it up with "And it's Elvis Presley, you idiot!" Every so often that comes into my mind and it still makes me laugh.
Anastasia Beaverhausen 1 year ago
Half of these are just people going along with the joke but BP not getting that...
VonBlade 1 year ago
This post would've been much better without people explaining the jokes. *grins*
Paul K. Johnson 1 year ago
Speaking of lame jokes.... I keep telling people I'm immortal - just like in my last life. Nobody has laughed yet. I can't tell if it's just not funny or if nobody gets it.
RafCo (he/him) 1 year ago
Dark humor is like food. Not everybody gets it.
Load More Replies... Victoria Pitt 1 year ago
My boyfriend, dear thing, tends to be literal and often explains jokes back to me. He will understand the joke and laugh but then tell me why it's funny, whether I made the joke or someone else did. lol He's just a little nerdy but I love him :-p
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
sounds like ASD. get him tested. It is useful to know. speaking from experience.
Load More Replies... WonderWoman 1 year ago
BP shortened the original post of 51 to 50! Gosh, thanks BP for saving me!
K W 1 year ago
This is like the time on Twitter I said that Brad Pitt's best movie was definitely Top Gun in a tongue in cheek way. A lot of people played along but some people adamantly needed to let me know it was NOT Brad Pitt but in fact Tom Cruise. This was a couple of years ago before Maverick came out.
Matias Marczak 1 year ago
It's interesting how my brain keeps telling me these people are stupid despite it not getting most of the jokes right away.
Greta Kolding 1 year ago
You can almost see the gears painfully and squeakingly turning in someone's mind until the penny drops in slow motion.
What Do I Do With This Kitty Litter Now 1 year ago
70% of bored panda could fit in this article
Grace Note 1 year ago
My favourite from years ago. I was on a forum and one user was arguing with another, telling him how stupid he was, blah. I don't remember the name of the arguing guy but the user he was arguing with was a Scottish guy with the username ElvisPaisley. Got to the end of dressing down, ElvisPaisley and finished it up with "And it's Elvis Presley, you idiot!" Every so often that comes into my mind and it still makes me laugh.
Anastasia Beaverhausen 1 year ago
Half of these are just people going along with the joke but BP not getting that...
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